Editor's Note: A previous version of this story used the incorrect pronouns for Lou Lepping (she), misidentified the Louisville Metro Government offices spearheading the project and failed to identify Jessica McAlpin in the photo. These errors and omissions have been corrected. (Feb. 9, 2023)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Louisville Government is making a call for community artwork to improve pedestrian safety. The launch of the new pilot program aims to brighten up four of Louisville’s major intersections.

What You Need To Know

  • Louisville's Office of Advanced Planning and the Office of Arts and Creative Industries are launching a new pilot program for safer, brighter crosswalks

  • The program is called “Community Crosswalks” and will be along 4th Street at Liberty, Chestnut, Preston and Witherspoon Streets and Muhammad Ali Boulevard

  • Lou Lepping and Jessica Kincaid are heading this program, which is calling for artists of color based in Louisville 

  • Other major U.S. cities, including Boston and Chicago, have installed similar artwork

Louisville’s first ever bright colored crosswalk was installed on 4th and Jefferson. The new “Community Crosswalks” program will continue along 4th Street at Liberty, Chestnut, Preston and Witherspoon Streets—along with Muhammad Ali Boulevard. 

The intersections were chosen because of their high traffic—and since the roads aren’t scheduled for any maintenance soon, the artwork won’t quickly deteriorate.

The program is inspired by the Asphalt Art Safety study, which reveals a 50% drop in crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists and a 37% drop in crashes leading to injuries at intersections where asphalt art was installed.

Lou Lepping serves as the Urban Planner at the Office of Advanced Planning for Louisville Metro Government and says the program is an effort to have zero pedestrian deaths in the city. 

“Louisville recently implemented its vision zero plan, so we’re really working toward zero pedestrian deaths and incidents in the city,” Lepping said. “And this is really a step forward towards that.”

She’s hoping the bright artwork draws critical attention to Louisville crosswalks.

Jessica Kincaid serves as the Public Art Administrator at the Office of Advanced Planning for Louisville Metro Government. She wants the program to broaden its horizon to additional people in the community if successful. 

“The goal is to use this as a pilot to structure a program that can be used throughout the community and we hope that the community can kind of take ownership of it,” said Kincaid. 

Both Lepping and Kincaid said the project is great for the city’s public art scene. If successful, both community groups and local businesses can choose to create safe crosswalks.

They’re not looking for any specific theme for the artwork. That’ll be left up to the artists chosen for the project. Preference will be given to artists of color and based in Louisville.

A mandatory virtual meeting for all interested artists and teams will be held Thursday at noon, where people can ask questions about logistics and timelines for the project.

The Office of Advanced Planning will install the artwork during the month of April, unveiling it just before the Kentucky Derby. Other major U.S. cities, including Boston and Chicago, have installed similar artwork.

Related Stories